Cambridge applicant secures new home for Palmyra's restored Arch of Triumph two years after ISIS destroyed the monument

A "shy and reserved" schoolgirl has convinced the Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) to display its reconstructed Arch of Palmyra in her small hometown after featuring at exhibitions in London and New York.

The Arch of Triumph was built in Palmyra during the third century AD in the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, but was destroyed by ISIS forces when they stormed the ancient city in 2015.

Following the desecration of the ancient heritage site, a group of international archaeologists launched a project to recreate the marble monument, with the finished exhibit recently making its debut showing in Trafalgar Square last year.

It was later transported to New York, while archaeologists continued to search for an appropriate home for the monument.

It was at this point that 18-year-old Olivia Neil-Jones - an English Italian student who has applied to study Classics at the University of Cambridge next year - contacted the IDA with the hope of bringing the Arch to her home town so that it might stand as part of a new exhibition at her local museum.

As a keen Classicist, Olivia first began interning at Arona's Archaeological Museum in an attempt to "beef up" her UCAS personal statement with some relevant work experience.

Noting that the museum was in the process of renaming itself in honour of Khaled al Asaad, the curator of the Palmyra UNESCO site murdered by ISIL militants, Olivia contacted the IDA in hope of acquiring some printed material to create an exhibit about his life.

However, after discussing her ideas with the IDA over a number of months, Olivia was then informed that the museum had been shortlisted as the potential home for the Arch.

Determined to secure the Arch for the town, she attended a number of meetings between the museum and local officials in order persuade the local authorities that the Arch should become a key exhibition which focuses visitors' attention on “the passion that shaped Al Assad's life”.

Thankfully, her efforts proved fruitful - with the IDA recently announcing that Arch will be unveiled in Arona later this year on the 25 March.

Olivia Neil-Jones is hoping to attend Cambridge to study Classics next September

Standing alongside it will be an exhibition to celebrate the shared Roman inheritance of Italy and the Middle East and the courage of those working to protect endangered heritage around the world.

Commenting on the announcement, the IDA added that it hopes the new exhibition will protect the many heritage sites under threat in the Middle East, whilst also supporting local Italian communities affected by the recent earthquakes in the country.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Olivia said that she had felt "very strongly" that her local museum should focus on Mr al Assad's life rather than his death and the modern-day relevance of the Classical world adding that she felt the exhibition would be something he would be "proud of".

Now preparing for her exams, Olivia has also embarked on a new project called the 'Whole Italy Catalogue' working with local schoolchildren to photograph historical buildings in Arona so that with the help of the IDA they might one day be reconstructed in the event of future earthquakes.

She hopes the youth-led project will grow to document all of Italy’s historical buildings and monuments, inspiring Italy’s youth to safeguard their "common, classical heritage" for their future.

"I am now focused on an even more exciting project that if successful will leave a lasting legacy and will be something Italian kids can do to protect their heritage, something they can be proud of," she added.